Mechanical liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

A mechanical liquid crystal display (LCD) device and particularly to a mechanical LCD device for automatically and rapidly unloading and storing the LCD panel that is especially suitable for a LCD device which has a display panel higher than the case to allow the display panel to be folded and stored includes a case for housing an extendable deck. The case has a coupling mechanism on one side. The extendable deck has a front side pivotally coupled with a LCD panel holding mechanism. The LCD panel holding mechanism has a downward folding actuation means located thereon which is linked to the front side of the extendable deck. The structure thus formed can replace the expensive electronic circuit control to enable users to automatically and rapidly unload or retract and store the display panel, and also adjust and remember the viewing angle of the display panel to meet user&#39;s requirements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mechanical liquid crystal display(LCD) device and particularly to a mechanical LCD device forautomatically and rapidly unloading and storing the LCD panel that isespecially suitable for a LCD device which has a display panel higherthan the case to allow the display panel to be folded downwards andstored, and also has an viewing angle that may be adjusted andremembered to suit user's requirements.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With increasing developments of technology and economics, people havegrowing demands for leisure, recreation and information. As a result,telematics products such as video and audio devices for use in cars andmobile information equipment have been developed and introduced. Amongthem Liquid crystal display (LCD) device is an indispensable facility.For the car use LCD devices now on the market, folding and storingoperations generally can be categorized into three types, i.e. fullyautomatic, semi-automatic and manual. The fully automatic type employselectric and precise electronic elements to do control function. Thedisplay panel of the display device may be unfolded and turned andanchored on a desired position by one push. However it is veryexpensive. The semi-automatic and manual types have to be turned andadjusted by people manually to set the display panel at a desiredposition. While they are less expensive, they are not convenient foruse. Hence the conventional display devices all have their share ofproblems, either expensive or inconvenient to use.

Moreover, in order to facilitate folding and storing, the foldingdisplay panel of the LCD device usually is located on a lower side ofthe case. To enable passengers in the car to see without difficulty, ithas to be mounted on a higher elevation in the car. This createsconstraints of installation to car manufacturers. It also is a big issuein the design of LCD device that remains to be overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the present invention aims toprovide a mechanical and automatic LCD device.

In order to achieve the foregoing object, the mechanical and automaticLCD device according to the invention mainly includes a case whichhouses an extendable deck. There is a coupling mechanism on one side ofthe case. The front side of the extendable deck is pivotally coupledwith a display panel holding mechanism. The display panel holdingmechanism has a downward folding adjustment means linking to the frontside of the extendable deck. By means of the structure set forth above,the display panel may be unloaded and stored rapidly through themechanical elements, and the viewing angle of the display panel may beadjusted according to user's requirements, and the adjusted angle mayalso be remembered for reuse.

In one aspect of the invention, the case is hollow and has a window, andhas a first channeling mechanism and a second channeling mechanismlocated respectively on two sides corresponding to each other to guidethe extendable deck to retract inwards or extend outwards at desiredlocations.

In another aspect of the invention, the extendable deck has a front sidepivotally coupled with the display panel holding mechanism, and also iscoupled with the first and the second channeling mechanisms forpositioning.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the coupling mechanism islocated on one side of the extendable deck to control folding, latchingand releasing of the display panel holding mechanism.

In still another aspect of the invention, the display panel holdingmechanism includes a panel for holding a LCD panel, and has a downwardfolding adjustment means housing zone on the back side thereof.

In another aspect of the invention, the downward folding adjustmentmeans is located in the display panel holding mechanism linking to theextendable deck, and includes a downward folding actuation assembly andan angle adjustment assembly.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the coupling mechanism of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the downward folding adjustment means ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the invention in operating condition 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the invention in operating condition 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the invention in operating condition 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the coupling mechanism in an operatingcondition.

FIG. 9 is a cross section taken on line I-I in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a cross section taken on line II-II in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the coupling mechanism in operatingcondition 1.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the coupling mechanism in operatingcondition 2.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the downward folding adjustment means inoperating condition 1.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the downward folding adjustment means inoperating condition 2.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the downward folding adjustment means inoperating condition 3.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the LCD panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 16, the mechanical LCD deviceaccording to the invention mainly includes an extendable deck 2 in acase 1. The case also has a coupling mechanism 3 on one side. The frontside of the extendable deck 2 is pivotally coupled with a display panelholding mechanism 4. The display panel holding mechanism 4 has adownward folding adjustment means 5 linking to the front side of theextendable deck 2.

The case 1 is hollow and has a face panel 11 at the front end with awindow 111 formed thereon to allow the display panel holding mechanism 4and related elements to be extended outwards. On an inner side of thewindow 111, there is a sloped trough 112 on a lateral side. The case 1has a first channeling mechanism 12 and a second channeling mechanism 13located respectively on two sides corresponding to each other to guidethe extendable deck 2 to retract inwards or extend outwards at desiredlocations. The first channeling mechanism 12 has a first elevationsustaining plate 121 and a sliding rod 123 coupling on a sliding block122. The second channeling mechanism 13 has a second elevationsustaining plate 131 and a gear rack 132.

The extendable deck 2 is located above the elevation sustaining plates121 and 131 and may be extended through the window 111 outside the case1. The extendable deck 2 has a rear section with one side fastening tothe sliding block 122 of the first channeling mechanism 12 and anotherside has a damper 21 engaging with the gear rack 132 of the secondchanneling mechanism 13. The rear end of the extendable deck 2 also hasrespectively a push lug 22 and 23 on two sides to ram against an elasticreed A located at the front end of the elevation sustaining plates 121and 131. The push lug 23 has a binary switch B1 on an inner sidecorresponding to a latch tongue B2 located on the rear side of the case1. The front end of the extendable deck 2 has respectively a first and asecond pivot seat 24 and 25 fastened to two sides thereof. The first andthe second pivot seats 24 and 25 are bridged by a connection deck 26.

The coupling mechanism 3 (referring to FIG. 3) is located on one side ofthe extendable deck 2 to control folding, latching and releasing of thedisplay panel holding mechanism 4. It includes:

a partition 31 located above the extendable deck 2 having a torsionalspring housing zone 311 and a notch 312 on one side, and two axleholding docks 313 and 314 extended from two ends adjacent to the notch312;

a hollow first hub 32 for housing an axle C having a hook 321 on oneside that has a slant surface and a projection 322 on another side. Theprojection 322 has a trough 3221 on a rear side;

a hollow second hub 33 for housing the axle C having a lug 331 on oneside corresponding to the trough 3221 and a L-shaped strut 332 extendedoutwards from another side, and a slant bucking member 334 on anotherside opposite to the L-shaped strut 332 corresponding to the slopedtrough 112 of the face panel 11; and

a torsional spring 34 having one end engaging with the L-shaped strut332 and other end pressing the torsional spring housing zone 311 of thepartition 31. The torsional spring 34 pushes the first and the secondhubs 32 and 33 to one side of the partition 31 in normal conditions.

The display panel holding mechanism 4 has a panel 41 for holding a LCDpanel 40. The panel 41 has a lower edge forming a trough 42corresponding to the hook 321 of the coupling mechanism 3. The trough 42has a notch 421. In the middle portion of the back side of the panel 41,there are a first and a second pivot docks 45 and 43 on two sidescorresponding to the first and second pivot seat 24 and 25 of theextendable deck 2, and are pivotally coupled respectively with stubshafts C1 and C2. The back side of the display panel holding mechanism 4further has a downward folding adjustment means housing zone 44 whichhas respectively a sliding block housing trough 441 and 442 on twosides. In the center there are a bordering strut 447, a spring housingtrough 443 and a housing trough 444. The housing trough 444 has aplurality of apertures 445 and is covered by a cover plate 446.

The downward folding adjustment means 5 is located in the display panelholding mechanism 4 and is connected to the extendable deck 2. Itincludes a downward folding actuation assembly 5A and an angleadjustment assembly SB.

The downward folding actuation assembly SA is to actuate downwardfolding of the display panel holding mechanism 4. It includes:

two dampers 51 and 52 located respectively on the outer side of thesliding block housing trough 441 and 442;

a sliding board 53 which has gear racks 531′ and 531″ on two sidescorresponding to the dampers 51 and 52, latch troughs 532′ and 532″ ontwo sides of the bottom, a longitudinal trough 534 in the center, andstruts 533′ and 533″ on two sides of an upper section to anchor one endof springs D1 and D2. The springs D1 and D2 have other end fastening tothe strut 448 on the back side of the display panel holding mechanism 4;and

an elevation angle push plate 58 which has respectively a stub shaft 581extended outwards from two sides of the upper end and the lower end tocouple with the connection deck 26 of the extendable deck 2 and thelatch troughs 532′ and 532″ of the sliding board 53.

The angle adjustment assembly 5B is to adjust and remember the turningelevation angle of the display panel holding mechanism 4. It includes:

an anchor member 55 which has a strut 551 on the bottom of the frontside to compress a spring E located in the spring housing trough 443,and an anchor gear rack 552 and two elongated notches 553 on the backside, and a slant bucking member 554 on the lower edge; and

an anchor push button 56 located on the front side of the display panelholding mechanism 4 that has a plurality of latch struts 561 to runthrough apertures 445 of the display panel holding mechanism 4 to fastento an anchor plate 57 on the back side of the display panel holdingmechanism 4, and is pressed by a spring F in normal conditions. Theanchor plate 57 has a gear rack 571 corresponding to the anchor gearrack 552 of the anchor member 55.

By means of the construction set forth above (referring to FIGS. 5through 12), when an user wants to retract and store the LCD panel 40,he/she only has to push the panel 41 of the display panel holdingmechanism 4 rearwards, the LCD panel 40 may be turned to a horizontalposition, and the stub shafts C1 and C2 of the first and second hubs 32and 33 serve as the axes of the display panel holding mechanism 4, theelevation angle push plate 58 of the downward folding actuation assembly5A is driven and turned rearwards because the trough 42 of the panel 41rams the slant surface of the hook 321 of the first hub 32 when thepanel 41 is turned horizontally. After the trough 42 has passed over theslant surface of the hook 321,the returning elastic force of thetorsional spring 34 moves the hook 321 into the trough 42 (meanwhile theL-shaped strut 332 is upright, will be discussed later). Therefore thedisplay panel holding mechanism 4 is prevented from returning. User cancontinuously push the display panel holding mechanism 4 into the case 1,and the push lugs 22 and 23 push the elastic reels A on two sides of thecase 1 toextend. When the extendable deck 2 is moved to the rear side ofthe case 1, the binary switch B1 is latched on the latch tongue B2 toprevent the extendable deck 2 from being extended outwards. Thus thedisplay panel holding mechanism 4 may be housed and stored. When theuser wants to unload the display panel holding mechanism 4 for viewing,push the display panel holding mechanism 4 again, the binary switch B1is released from the latch tongue B2, the winding elastic force of theelastic reel A pushes the push lugs 22 and 23, and the extendable deck 2is extended outside the case 1. Meanwhile the damper 21 is engaged withthe gear rack 132 of the second channeling mechanism 13 to deceleratethe motion so that the extendable deck 2 won't be moved out too quickly.Once the extendable deck 2 is completely outside the case 1, the slantbucking member 334 of the second hub 33 will be pushed by the slantsurface of the sloped trough 112 of the face panel 11 to force the firstand second hubs 32 and 33 to compress the torsional spring 34, and thehook 321 of the first hub 32 is moved from the trough 42 to the notch421 on another side thereby the display panel holding mechanism 4escapes the constraint of the hook 321 and the extendable deck 2 iscompletely moved outside of the case 1 to be anchored. The partition 31of the coupling mechanism 3 is pushed by the returning elastic force ofthe torsional spring 34 and extended forwards to lift the display panelholding mechanism 4 upright so that users can see the LCD panel 40.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, adjusting and anchoring the viewingangle of the display panel is accomplished through the angle adjustmentassembly 5B. In normal conditions, the springs D1 and D2 pull thesliding board 53 to make the LCD panel 40 in an upright position. Theanchor push button 56 and the gear racks 552 and 571 of the anchormember 55 may be adjusted to different elevations to alter the angles ofthe sliding board 53 and the elevation angle push plate 58. Thereforeuser needs only to depress the anchor push button 56 and move the LCDpanel 40 to a desired elevation angle, then release the anchor pushbutton 56 to complete the angular adjustment. When the LCD panel isstored and unloaded next time, it automatically turns to the angle setpreviously. Thus it can remember the adjusted angle for later use.

In summary, the mechanical operation provided by the invention is lesslikely to incur malfunction, and can replace the expensive electroniccircuit control, and can automatically and rapidly unload or retract andstore the display panel. The viewing angle may also be adjusted to suituser's requirements. And once adjusted, the invention can remember theadjusted angle for later use.

1. A mechanical liquid crystal display device comprising: a case, anextendable deck, a coupling mechanism, a display panel holding mechanismand a downward folding adjustment device, wherein: the case is hollowand has a window and a first channeling mechanism and a secondchanneling mechanism located respectively on two sides corresponding toeach other to guide the extendable deck to retract inwards or extendoutwards at desired locations; the extendable deck has a front sidepivotally engaged with the display panel holding mechanism and iscoupled with the first channeling mechanism and the second channelingmechanism for positioning; the coupling mechanism is located on one sideof the extendable deck to control folding, latching and releasing of thedisplay panel holding mechanism; the display panel holding mechanism hasa panel to hold a LCD panel; and the downward folding adjustment deviceis located in the display panel holding mechanism and connected to theextendable deck and has a downward folding actuation assembly to guidethe display panel holding mechanism for folding downwards and storing;wherein the LCD panel is foldable downwards and storable in the case,wherein the downward folding actuation assembly includes two dampers, asliding board, and an elevation angle push plate, wherein the slidingboard has two sides each having a gear rack corresponding to the damper,a bottom edge forming respectively a latch trough on two sides, alongitudinal trough in the center, and a latch strut on each of twosides to anchor a first end of a sliding board spring, the sliding boardspring having a second end fastened to a strut on a back side of thedisplay panel holding mechanism.
 2. The mechanical liquid crystaldisplay device of claim 1, wherein the elevation angle push plate hasrespectively a stub shaft extended outwards from two sides of an upperend and a lower end thereof to couple with a connection deck of theextendable deck and a latch trough of the sliding board.
 3. Themechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein thedownward folding adjustment device further includes an angle adjustmentassembly to adjust and remember a turning elevation angle of the displaypanel holding mechanism.
 4. The mechanical liquid crystal display deviceof claim 3, wherein the angle adjustment assembly further includes ananchor member, an anchor push button and an anchor plate.
 5. Themechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 4, wherein the anchorpush button is located on a front side of the display panel holdingmechanism and has a plurality of latch struts running through aperturesformed on the display panel holding mechanism to fasten to the anchorplate on a back side of the display panel holding mechanism, and iscompressed by a spring in normal conditions, the anchor plate having agear rack corresponding to an anchor gear rack of the anchor member. 6.The mechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 4, wherein theanchor member includes a strut on a lower edge of a front side thereofto compress a spring located in a spring housing trough, and an anchorgear rack and two elongated notches on a back side thereof.
 7. Themechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein thecoupling mechanism includes a partition, a first hub and a second hub.8. The mechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 7, wherein thepartition is located above the extendable deck having a torsional springhousing zone and a notch on one side and two axle holding docks extendedfrom two ends thereof adjacent to the notch.
 9. The mechanical liquidcrystal display device of claim 7, wherein the first hub is hollow forhousing an axle and has a hook on one side that has a slant surface anda projection on another side, the projection having a trough on a rearside thereof.
 10. The mechanical liquid crystal display device of claim7, wherein the second hub is hollow for housing an axle and has a lug onone side corresponding to a trough formed on a projection of the firsthub and a L-shaped strut extended from another side, and a slant buckingmember on another side opposite to the L-shaped strut.
 11. Themechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the firstchanneling mechanism has a first elevation sustaining plate and asliding rod coupling on a sliding block.
 12. The mechanical liquidcrystal display device of claim 11, wherein the first elevationsustaining plate has an elastic reel on a front edge thereof.
 13. Themechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the secondchanneling mechanism has a second elevation sustaining plate and a gearrack.
 14. The mechanical liquid crystal display device of claim 13,wherein the second elevation sustaining plate has an elastic reel on afront edge thereof.